Bihar

• 14 Feb 2024

Bihar Floor Test

Why in News?

Recently, the Janata Dal (United) coalition government in Bihar won the confidence motion by 129 votes.

Key Points

• Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD’s) three Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were seen sitting on the ruling party benches in the Bihar Assembly.
• The RJD leader raised a point of order, taking objection to party MLAs sitting among members of the ruling party, ahead of voting on a no-confidence motion.
• The RJD coalition government won the motion of confidence for his government after the resolution was supported by 129 MLAs.
• The Bihar assembly also passed the no-confidence motion against Bihar Assembly Speaker and RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary.
  • The no-confidence motion against the leader was passed with the support of 125 members.
• However, no ruling was given on the point of order by Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari, who was in the Chair.

Point of Order

• A member can raise a point of order when the proceedings of the House do not follow the normal rules of procedure.
• A point of order should relate to the interpretation or enforcement of the Rules of the House or such articles of the Constitution that regulate the business of the House and should raise a question that is within the cognizance of the Speaker.
• It is usually raised by an opposition member in order to control the government. It is an extraordinary device as it suspends the proceedings before the House.
• No debate is allowed on a point of order.

No-Confidence Motion

• This is a motion moved in the Lok Sabha (and not in the Rajya Sabha) to test the confidence of the government.
• The motion needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
• If a no-confidence motion is passed, the government must resign.
• No-confidence motions are significant political events that usually occur when there is a perception of the government losing majority support.

Floor Test

• It is a term used for the test of the majority. If there are doubts against the Chief Minister (CM) of a State, he/she can be asked to prove the majority in the House.
  • In case of a coalition government, the CM may be asked to move a vote of confidence and win a majority.
• In the absence of a clear majority, when there is more than one individual staking claim to form the government, the Governor may call for a special session to see who has the majority to form the government.
  • Some legislators may be absent or choose not to vote. The numbers are then considered based only on those MLAs who were present to vote.